Method and system for regulation of endocrine and exocrine glands by means of neuro-electrical coded signals

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and devices for endocrine and exocrine gland control, Neuro-electrical coded signals can be selected from a storage area that is representative of body organ function. The selected neuro-electrical coded signals are then transmitted to a treatment member, which is in direct contact with the body, and which then broadcasts the neuro-electrical coded signals to a specific endocrine and exocrine gland nerve or gland to modulate the gland functioning. A control module is provided for transmission to the treatment member. The control module contains the neuro-electrical coded signals which are selected and transmitted to the treatment member, and computer storage can be provided for greater storage capacity and manipulation of the neuro-electrical coded signals.

CROSS-REFERENCE AND PRIORITY TO PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/552,928, entitled “Method and System for Regulation ofEndocrine and Exocrine Glands by Means of Neuro-Electrical CodedSignals,” which was filed on Sep. 2, 2009 and is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/552,928is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/401,734, whichissued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,725,176, which is a Continuation-in-Part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/889,407, which issued as U.S. Pat.No. 7,058,446, and which in turn is a continuation of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Serial No. 60/486,089, which was filed on Jul. 10,2003 and entitled “Regulation of Endocrine and Exocrine Glands by Meansof Neuro-Coded Signals.” The aforementioned patent applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. This patentapplication therefore claims priority to the Jul. 10, 2004 filing dateof U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/486,089.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments are generally related to the regulation of endocrine andexocrine glands utilizing neuro-electrical coded signals.

BACKGROUND

Bodily homeostasis is the regulation of the milieu interieur (internalenvironment) of the living mammalian body. Homeostasis is the processthrough which organs, glands, and the central and peripheral nervoussystem harmoniously function to balance life equilibrium. The processincludes, but is not limited to, glandular participation in theregulation of body temperature, heart rate, respiration, digestion,energy metabolism, immunity, and reproduction. Glandular secretions alsoare used to protect the human or animal body from invading microbes,environmental dust, and other wind carried or propelled chemicals, smokeproducts or odors.

The glandular flow of chemicals or hormones plays an important role inthe homeostasis process. There are two principal classes of secretoryglands. There are the “endocrine” glands that secrete directly into theblood stream and there are the “exocrine” glands that produce asecretion onto the surface of the body and to protect with secretions inthe exterior orifices or into the interior of organs other than directlyinto the bloodstream.

The ability to electrically cause the endocrine or exocrine glands tosecrete or to cease secreting or even to partially secrete would be acompelling medical technology for potentially controlling or adjustingbody homeostasis. The control of the glands is by means ofneuro-electrical coded signals that originate in the brain and brainstem. The ability to influence the amount of chemicals, hormones oraqueous/mucoid substances to influence the body's response to stress,sexual function, lactation, tears, digestive juices, salt & waterbalance and behavior. Puberty is evolved in male and female mammalsbecause of the long-term influence of endocrine glands. If such systemof glands is controlled by actual neuro-electrical coded signals(waveform) generated by a device that records, stores, and rebroadcastsit would greatly add to the clinical medicine tools. Such glandularcontrol technology would provide a clinical neuro-electric method tofine-tune the function of many glandular based biological systems forthe benefit of mankind.

The invention would use the actual neuro-electrical coded signals thatsend operational information to operate and regulate the wide variety ofendocrine and exocrine glands of the human and animal body. These actualneuron signals travel along selected nerves to send the operationalcommands to the target gland.

The glands of the human and other mammals are operated byneuro-electrical coded signals from the brain which, in turn canexcrete, in selected cases, chemical instructional signals. Thesechemical signals are transferred to target organs via the blood streamin the case of the endocrine glands.

The exocrine glands do not excrete into the blood stream as do theendocrine glands. These types of glands have a type of duct system toflow the secretions outward. The exocrine glands excrete or secretelargely onto surfaces exterior to the body such as the sweat glandswhich help cool the body as a contribution to body homeostasis. Thesebaceous glands lubricate the surface of the skin with an oilysubstance. The lacrimal glands make tears to cleanse and lubricate theeyes. Important exocrine glands are the mammary glands, which providebabies milk. The class of species called “mammals” gets their namebecause they nurse their young from mammary glands.

Another type of exocrine glands are those that provide digestivechemicals such as saliva and digestive juices that affect the mouth,stomach, and intestines to begin as the first step to accomplish thedigestion of food. There are wax producing glands in the external earcanal for protection from insects and microbes.

An example of an exocrine gland in a non-mammal species is the poisongland in snakes which is injected via fangs into a victim, which isusually a mammal, as an aid in catching food and to begin the digestiveprocess.

This is a representative sampling of the endocrine glands which can beregulated by neuro-electrical coded signals. These glands are ductlessand transfer their secretory hormone products directly into the bloodstream. The blood stream carries the endocrine hormones to distant cellsor target organs within the body to control short or long-termfunctions. The following list is not meant to be complete or allencompassing, but to provide a picture of the arena in which theinvention operates.

Endocrine glands include the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, parathyroid,ovary, testis, and part of the pancreas. There is also the placenta,thymus, and pineal gland. The prostate may be considered an exocrinegland. The lubricating vaginal canal mucous produced by the adult femalein response to sexual stimulation can be considered an exocrine gland.The protective mucus produced in the bronchial tubes of the respiratorytract also qualifies as exocrine type.

The kidney is also an excretory gland plus a vital organ. It produceshormones involved in the control of blood pressure and forerythropoiesis which is the production of red blood cells. The kidneyalso functions as a vital organ filter to remove soluble waste productsfrom the blood stream. Therefore the kidney is part a method to removecertain liquid waste and it is an endocrine gland too.

The endocrine and exocrine glandular operating signal(s) occur naturallyas a burst or continuous pattern of signals followed by a pause and thenanother burst of neuron activity followed by a pause of short or longduration and so it is on and on throughout life. Such signal(s)amplitude or time of pause can be varied to accomplish the glandularactivity required. Endocrine and exocrine glandular activity requiresvariable repetitive neuro-electrical coded signals as humans or animalslive. Various glandular secretions operate in a symphonic pattern beingconduced by the brain to accomplish the mission assigned, all aimed atmaintaining the best body homeostasis. There is adequate but variablespace between the signals produced by the neurons located both in thebrain and the peripheral nervous system to allow synchronization ofsecretion production into smooth hormonal or chemical applications bythe endocrine and exocrine glands.

SUMMARY

The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of someof the innovative features unique to the present invention and is notintended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the variousaspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking theentire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.

The invention provides a method for controlling endocrine and exocrineglands. Stored neuro-electrical coded signals that are generated andcarried in the body are selected from a storage area. The selectedwaveforms are then transmitted to a treatment member who is in directcontact with the body. The treatment member then broadcasts the selectedneuro-electrical coded signals to a nerve or endocrine gland or exocrinegland directly in the body.

The neuro-electrical coded signals may be selected from a storage areain a computer, such as a scientific computer. The process oftransmitting the selected neuro-electrical coded signals can either bedone remotely or with the treatment member connected to a controlmodule. The transmission may be seismic, electronic, the use of anantenna, or via any other suitable method.

The invention further provides an apparatus for controlling endocrineand exocrine glands. The apparatus includes a source of collectedneuro-electrical coded signals that are indicative of endocrine andexocrine glands functioning, a treatment member in direct contact withthe body, means for transmitting collected waveforms to the treatmentmember, and means for broadcasting the collected neuro-electrical codedsignals from the treatment member to the endocrine and/or exocrineglands.

The transmitting means may include a digital to analog converter. Thesource of collected waveforms preferably comprises a computer which hasthe collected waveforms stored in digital format. The signals or waveforms can be collected from living subjects via an analog-to-digitalconverter and stored in a memory of a suitable digital computing device.The computer may include separate storage areas for collectedneuro-electrical coded signals of different categories.

The treatment member may be comprised of an antenna or an electrode, orany other means of broadcasting one or more neuro-electrical codedsignals directly to the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer toidentical or functionally-similar elements throughout the separate viewsand which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification,further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detaileddescription of the invention, serve to explain the principles of thepresent invention.

The invention is described in greater detail in the followingdescription of examples embodying the best mode of the invention, takenin conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of one form of apparatus forpracticing the method according to the disclosed embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of another form of apparatus forpracticing the method according to the disclosed embodiments; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart of the method according to the disclosedembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limitingexamples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least oneembodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, references will be made to the embodiments illustrated in thedrawings. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of thescope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated device, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention illustrated herein being contemplatedas would normally occur to the one skilled in the art to which theinvention relates.

Skin usually has a 1000 to 30,000 ohm resistance while the interior ofthe body is quite conductive. All coded signals operate at less than 1volt, naturally. Applied voltage may be up to 20 volts according to theinvention to allow for voltage loss during the transmission orconduction of the required coded signals through mylin nerve sheath orresistive fat and other material. Current should always be less than 2amps output for the invention. Direct conduction into the nerves viaelectrodes connected directly to such nerves will likely have outputs ofless than 3 volts and current of less than one-tenth of an amp. Up to 10or more channels may be used simultaneously to exert medical treatmenton glandular control to aid a patient in moving or performing musculartasks suitable to his or her well-being as medical treatment.

The invention encompasses both a device and a method for endocrine andexocrine gland control by means of neuro-electrical coded signals. Oneform of a device 10 for endocrine and exocrine gland control, as shownin FIG. 1, is comprised of at least one treatment member 12 and acontrol module 14. The treatment member 12 is in direct contact with abody and receives a neuro-electrical coded signal from the controlmodule 14. The treatment member 12 may be an electrode, antenna, aseismic transducer, or any other suitable form of conduction attachmentfor broadcasting endocrine and exocrine gland signals that regulate oroperate glandular function in human or animals. The treatment member 12may be attached to efferent nerves leading to the endocrine and exocrineglands, afferent nerves leading to the brain or brainstem to accomplishmodulation of glandular output, the cervical spine, the neck, or theendocrine and exocrine glands in a surgical process. Such surgery may beaccomplished with “key-hole” entrance in a thoracic or limb stereo-scopeprocedure. If necessary, a more expansive thoracotomy approach may berequired for more proper placement of the treatment member 12.Neuro-electrical coded signals known to modulate endocrine and exocrinegland function may then be sent into nerves that are in close proximitywith the brain stem or other parts of the brain, or in nerve plexi orjunctions of nerves any wherein in the body that are appropriate toregulate glands.

The control module 14 includes at least one control 16 and an antenna18. The control 16 allows the device to regulate the signal transmissioninto the body. As shown in FIG. 1, the control module 14 and treatmentmember 12 can be entirely separate elements allowing the device 10 to beoperated remotely. The control module 14 can be unique, or can be anyappropriate conventional device which can provide neuro-electrical codedsignals for transmission to the treatment member 12.

In an alternate embodiment of the device 10, as shown in FIG. 2, thecontrol module 14′ and treatment member 12′ are connected. Similarmembers retain the same reference numerals in this figure. Additionally,FIG. 2 further shows another embodiment of the device 10′ as beingconnected to a computer 20, which provides greater capacity to store theneuro-electrical coded signals. The output voltage and amperage providedby the device 10′ during treatment shall not exceed 20 volts or 2 ampsfor each signal.

The computer 20 is used to store the library of unique neuro-electricalcoded signals, which have been recorded from mammals. Such signals arecomplex and unique to the endocrine and exocrine glands. It is aneuro-electrical coded-signal(s) selected from the stored library ofneuro-electrical coded signals (waveforms) in the computer 20 which istransmitted to the control module 14′ and used for treatment of apatient. The waveform signals, and their creation, are described ingreater detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/000,005, filedNov. 20, 2001, and entitled “Device and Method to Record, Store andBroadcast Specific Brain Waveforms to Modulate Body Organ Functioning,”the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The invention further includes a method, as shown in FIG. 3, for usingthe device 10, 10′ for endocrine and exocrine gland control. The methodbegins at step 22 by selecting one or more stored neuro-electrical codedsignals from a menu of cataloged neuro-electrical coded signals. Theneuro-electrical coded signals selected activate, deactivate, secrete,or adjust the endocrine and exocrine glands. Such neuro-electrical codedsignals are similar to those naturally produced by the brain structuresfor balancing and controlling glandular processes. Once selected, theneuro-electrical coded signals may be adjusted, in step 24, to perform aparticular function in the body. Alternatively, if it is decided thatthe neuro-electrical coded signals do not need to be adjusted, step 24is skipped and the process proceeds directly with step 26. At step 26,the neuro-electrical coded signal is transmitted to the treatment member12, 12′ of the device 10, 10′.

Upon receipt of the neuro-electrical coded signals, the treatment member12, 12′ broadcasts the neuro-electrical coded signals to the endocrineand exocrine glands or nerve location, as shown in step 28. The device10, 10′ utilizes appropriate neuro-electrical coded signals to adjust ormodulate glandular action via conduction or broadcast ofneuro-electrical coded signals into selected nerves. Controllingendocrine and exocrine gland function may require sendingneuro-electrical coded signals into one or more nerves, including up toten nerves simultaneously. It is believed that target glands can only“respond” to their own individual neuro-electrical coded signal.

In one embodiment of the invention, the process of broadcasting by thetreatment member 12, 12′ is accomplished by direct conduction ortransmission through unbroken skin in a selected appropriate zone on theneck, head, limb(s), spine, thorax, or abdomen. Such zone willapproximate a position close to the nerve or nerve plexus onto which thesignal is to be imposed. The treatment member 12, 12′ is brought intocontact with the skin in a selected target area that allows for thetransport of the signal to the target nerve(s).

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the process of broadcastingthe neuro-electrical coded signal is accomplished by direct conductionvia attachment of an electrode to the receiving nerve or nerve plexus.This requires a surgical intervention as required to physically attachthe electrode to the selected target nerve. Direct implantation on thenervous system of the selected endocrine and exocrine glands may beperformed in order to transmit signals to control all or some glandularfunction. Such implantation can be pre-synaptic or post-synaptic and maybe attached to ganglion or nerve plexus associated with the desiredsecretion function.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the process of broadcastingis accomplished by transposing the neuro-electrical coded signal into aseismic form where it is sent into a region of the head, neck, limb(s),spine, or thorax in a manner that allows the appropriate “nerve” toreceive and to obey the coded instructions of such seismic signal. Thetreatment member 12, 12′ is pressed against the unbroken skin surfaceusing an electrode conductive gel or paste medium to aid conductivity.

Various features of the invention have been particularly shown anddescribed in connection with the illustrated embodiments of theinvention. However, it must be understood that these particularproducts, and their method of manufacture, do not limit but merelyillustrate, and that the invention is to be given its fullestinterpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and otherfeatures and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirablycombined into many other different systems or applications. Also, thatvarious presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives,modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequentlymade by those skilled in the art which are also intended to beencompassed by the following claims.

1. A method for controlling endocrine and exocrine glands, said methodcomprising: collecting neuro-electrical coded signals generated in abody and indicative of endocrine gland and exocrine gland functioningand carried by nerves in said body; converting said neuro-electricalcoded signals into digital signals via an analog-to-digital converter;recording into a computer memory, said neuro-electrical coded signalsgenerated in said body and indicative of said endocrine gland and saidexocrine gland functioning, wherein said neuro-electrical coded signalsare recorded in said computer memory as said digital signals; convertingsaid neuro-electrical coded signals from said digital signals intoanalog signals via a digital-to-analog converter; transmitting orconducting selected waveforms of said neuro-electrical coded signals assaid analog signals to a treatment member in contact with a body; andbroadcasting the selected waveforms of said neuro-electrical codedsignals from the treatment member to an area in the body that isaffected to control endocrine and/or exocrine glands in said body. 2.The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting waveforms forselection as said selected waveforms from said computer memory, whereinsaid selected waveforms comprise analog signals converted from saiddigital signals to said analog signals via said digital-to-analogconverter.
 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising transmitting theselected waveforms remotely to the treatment member.
 4. The method ofclaim 2 further comprising initiating a seismic transmission of theselected waveforms.
 5. The method of claim 3 further comprisingadjusting glandular action in the body via conduction or broadcast ofsaid selected waveforms from the treatment member to said area in thebody that is affected to control said endocrine and/or exocrine glands.6. The method of claim 3 wherein said treatment member comprises anantenna.
 7. The method of claim 4 wherein said treatment membercomprises a seismic transducer.
 8. The method of claim 2 wherein saidtreatment member comprises an electrode.
 9. The method of claim 2wherein said transmitting or conducting said selected waveforms to saidtreatment member in contact with said body occurs with a current lessthan 2 amps output.
 10. The method of claim 2 wherein said transmittingor conducting said selected waveforms to said treatment member incontact with said body occurs to induce direct conduction into nerves ofsaid body have output of less than 3 volts and a current of less thanone-tenth of an amp.
 11. A system for controlling endocrine and exocrineglands, said system comprising: a processor; and a non-transitorycomputer-usable medium embodying computer program code, saidcomputer-usable medium capable of communicating with said processor,said computer program code comprising instructions executable by saidprocessor and configured for: collecting neuro-electrical coded signalsgenerated in a body and indicative of endocrine gland and exocrine glandfunctioning and carried by nerves in said body; converting saidneuro-electrical coded signals into digital signals via ananalog-to-digital converter; recording into a computer memory, saidneuro-electrical coded signals generated in said body and indicative ofsaid endocrine gland and said exocrine gland functioning, wherein saidneuro-electrical coded signals are recorded in said computer memory assaid digital signals; converting said neuro-electrical coded signalsfrom said digital signals into analog signals via a digital-to-analogconverter; transmitting or conducting selected waveforms of saidneuro-electrical coded signals as said analog signals to a treatmentmember in contact with a body; and broadcasting the selected waveformsof said neuro-electrical coded signals from the treatment member to anarea in the body that is affected to control endocrine and/or exocrineglands in said body.
 12. The system of claim 11 wherein saidinstructions are further configured for selecting waveforms forselection as said selected waveforms from said computer memory, whereinsaid selected waveforms comprise analog signals converted from saiddigital signals to said analog signals via said digital-to-analogconverter.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein said instructions arefurther configured for transmitting the selected waveforms remotely tothe treatment member.
 14. The system of claim 12 wherein saidinstructions are further configured for initiating a seismictransmission of the selected waveforms via said treatment member, saidtreatment member comprising a seismic transducer.
 15. The system ofclaim 13 wherein said treatment member comprises an antenna.
 16. Thesystem of claim 12 wherein said treatment member comprises an electrode.17. The system of claim 11 wherein said treatment member is attached toefferent nerves leading to said endocrine and/or exocrine glands in saidbody.
 18. The system of claim 12 wherein said instructions are furtherconfigured for adjusting glandular action in the body via conduction orbroadcast of said selected waveforms from the treatment member to saidarea in the body that is affected to control said endocrine and/orexocrine glands.
 19. The system of claim 11 wherein said treatmentmember is attached to afferent nerves leading to the brain or brainstemof said body to accomplish a modulation of glandular output with respectto said endocrine and/or exocrine glands in said body.